It’s worth a look.
Time magazine last week revealed its inaugural rundown of the 100 most influential businesses. Although the editors didn’t add the appendage “in the world,” it’s safe to say they could have because most of the companies conduct business globally, and plenty are based outside the United States.
Los Angeles is well represented, which should come as no surprise to Business Journal readers, who know the city is a thriving and vibrant hub of innovation and inspiration.
A quick scan reveals nearly 20 companies — or roughly one-fifth of the list — that are either headquartered in L.A. or have a substantial presence here.
There are homegrown businesses like Beyond Meat Inc., Headspace Inc., Mattel Inc. and, of course, Walt Disney Co.
Hawthorne-based SpaceX earns a spot, along with Elon Musk’s other flagship business, Tesla Inc.
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That interloper from the Pacific Northwest, Amazon.com Inc., is also included.
The list gets even more interesting when you look beyond the usual suspects.
Chinese electric vehicle-maker BYD Co. is included. Its North American headquarters are located downtown. TikTok is here, too. The social media giant is owned by China’s ByteDance Ltd., but has a U.S. office in Culver City.
There are some unexpected choices as well. Actress Reese Witherspoon’s Playa Vista-based media company Hello Sunshine gets a nod. So does El Segundo-based Savage X Fenty, the fast-growing fashion business from pop superstar Rihanna.
Germany’s Adidas, which just announced it was moving its basketball operations to L.A., is on the list. And United Talent Agency’s Klutch Sports Group, from LeBron James’ off-court running mate Rich Paul, also gets a place.
Not that L.A. needs validation, but the list is a nice reminder of the city’s place in the global business hierarchy.
